Device, system, and method for facilitating communications between electronic gaming machines and mobile devices

ABSTRACT

Various system, method, and device embodiments are disclosed for establishing and utilizing a wireless connection between an electronic gaming machine and a mobile device associated with a player. Such embodiments include use of a first component configured to communicate information with the mobile device using near-field communications and use of a second component configured to automatically pair the mobile device with the mobile interface device, using a Bluetooth connection, wherein the pairing of the mobile device with the mobile interface device utilizes the information communicated to the mobile device using the first component.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. Nonprovisional patentapplication Ser. No. 15/482,668, filed Apr. 7, 2017, the contents ofwhich are incorporated herein by reference as if fully disclosed herein.

FIELD

The technology described herein relates to devices, systems, and methodsfor use in identifying users (“players”) of casino gaming systems andmachines. The technology described herein also relates to devices,systems, and methods for use by players in accruing and redeemingpromotional credits, points, and other forms of digital currencies incasino and related property environments. The technology describedherein also relates to electronic transactions and/or informationexchanges arising by and between players of casino gaming systems andrelated properties where the players use one or more personal technologydevices, such as smart-phones, tablets, and other personal computingdevices to participate in an electronic transaction and/or informationexchange. The technology described herein also relates to the use ofwireless communications systems, devices, and methods for securelyexchanging digital data between casino players' mobile devices andelectronic gaming machines.

BACKGROUND

The operations of casinos, gaming devices and gaming systems aretypically tightly regulated by local, state and federal authorities.These regulations generally require a casino to maintain accuraterecords regarding every transaction that arises by, in, or through thecasino and related properties. Casino operators are also required tomaintain positive levels of control over all such transactions, toaccurately identify players to such transactions, and to record eachsuch transaction.

Casino operators commonly provide numerous devices on casino floors andelsewhere at which the operator needs to identify and authenticateplayers, and track transaction arising between the player and thecasino. Examples of such devices include electronic gaming machines,point-of-sale terminals, and other devices and systems. Morespecifically, casino operators are commonly required to tracktransactions involving “cash” and its equivalents, where “cash”collectively herein refers to any form of financial consideration, suchas currency bills issued by a governmental entity, bank credits, housecredits, pre-paid accounts, such as those provided by PAYPAL™, and anyother form of commonly recognized and transferrable denominations offinancial value.

To facilitate the tracking and auditing of such transactions and thetransfers of cash by and between players and casino operators, casinooperators often encourage players to utilize casino issued “cards,” suchas “ticket in, ticket out” (TITO) cards. A TITO card essentiallyidentifies a player and associates a given point value with theplayer—the bearer of such card. The bearer may utilize known securitytechniques, such as pins and biometrics, to limit access and use of aTITO card. To use a TITO card, a player will typically fund an accountassociated with the TITO card by debiting one or more bearer accounts,such as a checking or savings account with a financial institution, orcrediting one or more credit card or similar accounts. These debits andcredits are electronically exchanged for casino “points” redeemable atthe casino and associated properties. Points may be redeemed forpractically any purpose, including wagering bets using a casino game,purchasing meals or other goods, attending shows, or other activities.“Points” may also be converted back into “cash” at the player's request.The exchange of “cash” for “points” and vice versa may occur at booths,at electronic gaming machines, betting tables, on-line, via mobiledevice software applications, or otherwise. Regardless of how suchtransactions occur, gaming regulations require a tracking of each“point” at each instance in a transactions flow including from theinstance at which a point is generated (in exchange for cash), utilized(for example, with the playing of a slots game), and/or reconverted intocash or some other form of consideration provided to a player.

Typically, point tracking occurs across multiple casino computer systemsand devices including, for example, master casino tracking systems, slotmanagement systems, TITO management systems, point-of-sale systems,property management systems, such as those used for lodging, recreationand similar casino related operations, individual electronic gamingmachines (“EGMs”), and otherwise. One or more of such systems anddevices may utilize one or more actual or virtual servers to facilitatepoint tracking. In short, practically any device or system involved inthe granting, redeeming, transfer, or use of a “point” is commonlyrequired to track each “point” passing therethrough as well as theidentity of the player acquiring, redeeming, or otherwise transferringsuch “points.” Accordingly, these requirements impose a high layer ofcomplexity on casino games, systems, and operators.

Further, the underlying game-play of casino gaming machines and systemsare tightly regulated. Any change to certain hardware and/or softwarecomponents of a gaming device often requires re-verification andre-approval by gaming regulators before players can use the game. There-certification process can be lengthy and expensive. These regulatoryand technical constraints often discourage casino system operators fromchanging the underlying game-play functionality or otherwise modifyingcasino games including EGMs. It is desirable for new functionality andhardware to be designed in such a manner as to be sufficiently insulatedfrom those regulated components, and ideally to not require interactionwith them at all. Additionally, gaming devices may be in operation fordecades. It is therefore desirable for new features and functionality tobe easily retrofitted to older gaming devices, some of which may nothave been designed with modern technological capabilities in mind.

One approach for addressing these concerns has involved the use ofinterface boards, commonly known as Slot Machine Interface Boards(“SMIBs”). A SMIB commonly enables an EGM to communicate with one ormore peripheral devices without the involvement of the game processor.These peripheral devices typically do not affect underlying game-play ofan EGM, while providing additional incentives and features to players.For example, the rewarding of coupons, notifying players of promotions,or otherwise are often provided by peripheral devices interconnected toone or more EGMs by one or more SMIBs. A SMIB also may enable an EGM tocommunicate with other casino system servers and external servers overone or more networks, again without involving the game processor. Ofcourse, other designs are known and available, some of which virtualizethe function of a SMIB within a single EGM processor that incorporatesboth SMIB and gaming processes. Depending on the individual design,different approaches may be required to incorporate new functionalitywithout requiring re-certification. Several examples are described inU.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/482,615, filed on Sep. 22, 2016, andentitled “Bill Validation and Cash Dispensing Device, System and Methodfor Use in a Casino Context” (the “'615 application”), the entirecontents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

The premium services described herein and in the '615 application aretypically provided through a window overlay (or picture-in-picture) onthe gaming machine's display. While the premium services are greatlydesirable to casino patrons, the window overlay method of using theservices is sub-optimal. A patron's mobile phone would be a moreconvenient interface device to access the premium services, but casinoregulations, as well as good business practice, require significantsecurity provisions so that patrons and casinos are protected from theftand other malicious activity. Establishing a direct, authenticated,encrypted wireless communication session solves many of these problems.However, the lack of a quick, intuitive, and seamless means for a casinopatron to create the secure session has previously made the mobile phonean unsuitable candidate for interfacing with premium services.

With the advent of smart-phones and similar personal computing devices(collectively, “mobile devices”), and the electronic wallet and mobileapplication features provided by such devices, players today oftenforego the use of physical credit cards, bank debit cards, identitycards, and access cards in non-casino gaming environments. That is,players often utilize their mobile devices and software applications andtechnologies provided therewith to engage in transactions. Such mobiledevices often use close proximity communications technologies, such asoptical character readers, Near-Field Communications (“NFC”), Bluetooth,and otherwise, to engage in such transactions while replacing physicalcards. It is commonly known that NFC and Bluetooth are communicationstechnology and a series of specifications provided, respectively, by theNFC Forum, Inc. and Bluetooth SIG, Inc. Such specifications andtechnologies are incorporated herein by reference.

Yet, despite this widespread use of mobile devices to engage in commerceand transactions in non-casino environments, today, no viable mechanismfor complying with the regulatory and operational considerations facingcasino operators has enabled the deployment of similar mobile devicecapabilities in a casino, gaming environment.

As such, a need exists in the casino industry for devices, systems, andmethods which both enable players to utilize mobile devices to engage invarious gaming transactions, such as the redeeming of cash or points inexchange for the opportunity to engage in a game of chance, whileinterfacing directly with an EGM. Desirably, the various embodiments ofsuch needed devices, systems, and methods satisfying this long-lastingneed are economically efficient in that they are compatible with bothexisting EGMs and with commonly used mobile device technologies, withoutrequiring any fundamental changes in the operations of either.

SUMMARY

This summary is provided to introduce simplified concepts of devices,systems, and methods for establishing communications between electronicgaming machines and similar electronics devices and systems utilized byand/or in association with casino operators and mobile devices utilizedby players and others and identifying such player to the casinooperators' systems for authentication, tracking and other purposes.

An example embodiment may be a mobile interface device for establishinga wireless connection between an electronic gaming machine and a mobiledevice associated with a player. The mobile interface device includes afirst component which communicates pairing information to the mobiledevice. A second component automatically pairs the mobile device withthe mobile interface device using a Bluetooth connection. Pairing themobile device with the mobile interface device uses the pairinginformation communicated to the mobile device by the first component.

In some examples, the pairing information includes an encryption key toestablish secure data communications between the mobile interface deviceand the mobile device. The encryption key may be uniquely generated foreach pairing of the mobile device with the mobile interface device. Insome examples, the pairing information is communicated to the mobiledevice using near-field communications.

Another embodiment mobile interface device includes a first componentwhich communicates pairing information to the mobile device using atleast one optical image. A second component automatically pairs themobile device with the mobile interface device using the optical image.The pairing of the mobile device with the mobile interface device usesthe pairing information communicated to the mobile device using theoptical image. The mobile interface device also includes a display whichoutputs in the optical image at least one code containing the pairinginformation designated for use by the mobile device to automaticallyestablish a wireless connection between the mobile interface device andthe mobile device.

Still another embodiment is a method for identifying a player to anelectronic gaming machine using a mobile device. The method includes theoperation of establishing a near-field communications link between theelectronic gaming machine and the mobile device. The method furtherincludes communicating, over the near-field communications link,information needed to pair the electronic gaming machine to the mobiledevice using Bluetooth. The method pairs the electronic gaming machinewith the mobile device over a Bluetooth connection.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features, aspects, advantages, functions, components, devices,systems, and methods provided by the various embodiments of the presentdisclosure are further disclosed herein for at least one of thefollowing descriptions and accompanying drawing figures.

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a casino system configured foruse in accordance with at least one embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 2 is schematic representation of a player mobile interfaceconfigured for use in a gaming cabinet and for wirelessly communicatingwith a mobile device in accordance with at least one embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

FIGS. 3A and 3Bs are pictorial representations of an antenna and displaystructure for use with a player mobile interface in accordance with atleast one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 4A-4F depict in a combined flow chart and a communications andoperations diagram a method for utilizing Bluetooth and NFC connectionsto verify and authenticate a player's mobile device to a casino systemand communicate information and data therebetween.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The various embodiments described herein are directed to devices,systems, and methods which facilitate an EGM's or a related system'sidentification, authentication and/or tracking of a player by use of amobile device.

As shown in FIG. 1 and for at least one embodiment of the presentdisclosure, a system 100 disclosed herein includes an EGM 102 that iscommunicatively coupled to a peripheral controller 104 (such as a SMIBor similar device). The peripheral controller 104 may be communicativelycoupled to one or more ancillary devices, such as a printer 106, a billvalidator 108, or otherwise. The peripheral controller 104 iscommunicatively coupled to a mobile interface device 110 (a “MID”),which as discussed further below facilitates the identification,authentication, and tracking of the player while the player is “playing”the EGM 102. MID 110 may be configured to utilize any mobile deviceinterconnection components, protocols, and technologies, such asBluetooth™, WIFI, NCF, cellular, and other known and/or later to bediscovered wire or wireless communications protocols, devices, andsystems and otherwise. In at least one embodiment, MID 110 is configuredfor communicating, via one or more radio frequency protocols, datasignals to and from a mobile device 114 using NCF and Bluetoothprotocols. As discussed below, the mobile device 114 may be configuredto identify and authenticate a player associated with the mobile device114 to one or more servers provided in a casino system 130, such as acasino management system server 118. The mobile device 114 may beprovided by a player, provided by the casino, or otherwise. The mobiledevice 114 may be any device configured to wirelessly identify andauthenticate a player to the casino management system server 118.Examples of such mobile devices include but are not limited tosmart-phones, smart-watches, and other personal mobile computing devicescapable of communicating with an EGM over a wireless connection. Inaccordance with at least one embodiment and as discussed in greaterdetail below, such wireless connections are authenticated and secure.

In at least one embodiment, each of the EGM 102, peripheral controller104, and MID 110 are provided in a single gaming cabinet 112. Theprinter 106 and bill validator 108 may also be provided, if desired, inthe gaming cabinet 112, or separately, as desired for any givenimplementation of one or more of the present embodiments.

It is to be appreciated that the communications paths and/or linkagesutilized to communicatively couple each of the EGM 102, peripheralcontroller 104, and MID 110 may utilize any desired medium, such ascopper wire, printed circuit boards, optical cables, wireless pathwaysor otherwise. In at least one embodiment, universal serial bus (USB)compatible communication components are utilized to communicativelycouple the peripheral controller 104 with the MID 110. In otherembodiments, any known or hereafter developed communication componentsmay be utilized to communicatively couple a MID 110 to any othercomponent in a gaming cabinet 112. Further, in at least one embodiment,the communications components utilized to communicatively couple aprinter 106, bill validator 108, or MID 110 to one or more of the EGM102 and the peripheral controller 104 may utilize a single medium withthe data signals communicated between such devices being separated,interleaved, addressed, or otherwise communicated. In short, any knownor hereafter developed communications technologies may be used tocommunicatively couple one or more gaming cabinet 112 components with asecond or more gaming cabinet 112 components. Such technologies may alsobe configured, as desired for any given embodiment, to facilitate theremoval and replacement of any given component as such needs may arise,for example for repair, updating or otherwise. It is also to beappreciated that electrical power for one or more components provided ina gaming cabinet 112 may be provided, in whole or in part, by anothercomponent of such gaming cabinet 112. For example, a MID 110communicatively connected to a peripheral controller 104 over a USBconnection may rely upon power provided by the peripheral controller 104via such USB connection. In other embodiments, power for a MID 110 maybe provided thereto by any known or later arising technology. Any knownor later developed communications protocols, such as USB 2.0 or other,may be used to facilitate communications between a MID 110, a peripheralcontroller 104 and one or more casino management system servers 118.

It is also to be appreciated that while depicted in FIG. 1 or elsewherein conjunction with the various embodiments described herein, thecomponents of gaming cabinet 112 may be provided internal or external tothe cabinet and may exist as any desired combination of hardware andsoftware elements. It is to be appreciated that certain of such hardwareand/or software elements may exist virtually and may utilize hardwareand software components that may be utilized by another of the gamingcabinet 112 components.

In accordance with at least one embodiment, MID 110 may be configuredwhere the NFC antenna is a square helix design surrounding the MID's 110display. Per such an embodiment, the MID 110 may resemble a “button” orsimilar device that is both familiar and easily understandable forcasino patrons and can be installed into a gaming cabinet 112 through asuitably sized opening therein, with the MID 110 being plugged into aUSB port provided on a peripheral controller 104.

Gaming cabinet 112 may be configured to include other components whichare not shown in FIG. 1. Examples of such other components include butare not limited to TITO card readers, dispensers of items, such asbeverage dispensers, user interface components, and otherwise. One ormore of such other components may be configured to communicate with MID110 directly or indirectly, for example, via a peripheral controller104.

An EGM 102 may be configured to provide any desired gaming experience toa player. For example, in one embodiment EGM 102 may be a slot machine,a video poker game, or any other gaming experience. In one embodiment, agaming table and a dealer may replace the EGM 102. In at least oneembodiment, a gaming cabinet 112 may provide the option fornon-regulated experiences, with an EGM or other component providingvarious types of non-gambling user interfaces, such as video games forminors and otherwise. It is to be appreciated that the variousembodiments described may be utilized in conjunction with suchnon-gambling and gambling implementations. Accordingly, an EGM 102 canprovide any type of player desired interactive experience, bothregulated or non-regulated. An EGM 102 may include any desired hardwareand software components needed to provide the desired gaming or otherinteractive experience. The types of gaming and other experiences andthe technical capabilities of an EGM 102 to provide such experiences arebeyond the scope of the present disclosure.

Peripheral controller 104 may be configured to operate as a smart devicewith respect to one more components of the gaming cabinet 112, whereinthe peripheral controller 104 itself executes one or moresoftware/logical programs or controls needed by one or more of the MID110 or other component of the gaming cabinet 112. Peripheral controller104 may also be configured to directly or indirectly control theoperations of any application program executing on a player's mobiledevice 114, when such mobile device 114 is communicatively coupled tothe MID 110.

When configured in accordance with at least one embodiment of thepresent disclosure as a smart device, the peripheral controller 104 maybe configured to be communicatively coupled, directly or indirectly tothe Fuzion system 128, as described in the '615 application, such thatthe peripheral controller 104 has direct access to the various premiumfeatures of the system 100. In furtherance of such a systemconfiguration, the peripheral controller 104 may be configured with oneor more drivers and/or application program interfaces which enable theFuzion system 128, via the peripheral controller 104 and the MID 110, tocontrol one or more features and functions of the mobile device 114,including for example, the information, features and functions providedby an application program executing on such mobile device 114.

In at least one embodiment, the MID 110 may be configured to instruct amobile device 114 to present a link to a mobile application provided byan online store, such as the Android PLAY store provided by GOOGLE. Uponselection of such a link, a mobile application program associated withthe casino operator may be automatically, semi-automatically (i.e.,requiring some user interaction) or manually downloaded, installed, andselected for execution on the mobile device. The MID 110 may also beconfigured to instruct a mobile device 114 to execute a mobile paymentoption, such as ANDROID PAY, SAMSUNG PAY, APPLE PAY, or other. The useof NFC and execution of such mobile payment systems is well-known in theart and is beyond the scope of the present disclosure.

In another embodiment, peripheral controller 104 may be configured tooperate as a pass-through type device with respect to one or morecomponents of the gaming cabinet 112, wherein the peripheral controller104 essentially acts as a router or hub by which communications by andbetween a MID 110 are routed and directed to other system 100components, such as a casino management system server 118 or othercasino system 130 components.

When configured in accordance with at least one embodiment of thepresent disclosure as a pass-through device, peripheral controller 104may be configured to enable, for example, the Fuzion system 128 tocommunicate with and control the operation of the MID 110 and a mobiledevice 114 communicatively coupled to the MID 110. As configured as apass-through device, the peripheral controller 104 may be furtherconfigured to pass data messages between the Fuzion system 128 and theMID 110 to the player's mobile device 114.

In yet another embodiment, the peripheral controller 104 may notphysically exist in a gaming cabinet 112. Instead, one more other gamingcabinet 112 components, such as an EGM 102 or a MID 110, may providesuch various features and functions. It is also to be appreciated thatthe hardware and/or software providing the features and functions of theperipheral controller 104 in either of the smart-device and/orpass-through device configurations may be provided in other casinosystem 130 components, for example, as a virtual machine operating on acasino management system server 118.

It is to be appreciated that a casino system may include two or moregaming cabinets 112, with peripheral controllers 104 in each of suchgaming cabinets using different modes of operation. For example, a firstperipheral controller 104 may utilize a smart-device mode of operation,while a second peripheral controller 104 utilizes a pass-through mode ofoperation. Further, a peripheral controller 104 may be configured tochange its mode of operation based upon mobile device type utilized,transaction requested, or otherwise. For example, a peripheralcontroller 104 may use the smart device mode when a mobile device is NFCcompatible and a pass-through mode when the mobile device is not NFCcompatible.

MID 110 may be configured to operate in accordance with one or moresystem protocols. Such protocols may be configured, for example, togovern when a MID 110 can and cannot be utilized. A MID 110 may beconfigured to identify and authenticate a player's mobile device 114 bythe presence of any desired form of electronic identification or otherprovisioning of data. By way of illustration only and not by means oflimitation, examples of such electronic identification forms may includeNFC generated signals, Wi-Fi signals, Bluetooth signals, other knowncommunications technologies, and optical images such as two-dimensionalbar codes, QR codes, and otherwise. In at least one embodiment, MID 110may be configured to receive other forms information provided on“tickets” or “tags” such as a player's signature, a code or otheridentifier provided by a player using, for example, a touch screencompatible user interface on a mobile device 114 or otherwise. A MID 110may be configured to include optical character generation capabilities,pattern generation capabilities and other forms of signal and charactergeneration technologies. In accordance with at least one embodiment, MID110 may be provided in conjunction with a bill validator 108 or aprinter 106. Per at least one embodiment, the system may be configuredto utilize a printer 106, bill validator 108, a display provided by anEGM 102 or other device capable of generating a QR code readable by aplayer's mobile device 114. The so generated QR code may be printed,e.g., as a ticket, or displayed on a display. The QR code may beutilized to provide a mobile device 114 with information sufficient topair such mobile device 114 with a given MID 110 for a given session.Accordingly, it is to be appreciated that for at least one embodiment ofthe present disclosure, a MID 110 may be configured but does not have tobe configured, for any given session or otherwise, to possess or utilizeNFC communications capabilities to pair a MID 110 with a given player'smobile device 114.

A unique identifier may identify a MID 110. Examples of identifiersinclude, but are not limited to, network addresses, device addresses,media access control (“MAC”) addresses, serial numbers, unique sequencesof numbers, by a grouping of two or more MIDs 110 in a casino system, orotherwise. For at least one embodiment, a MID 110 may be identified by aMAC address provided with an NFC transceiver utilized. It is to beappreciated that such MAC address may be unique for each session basedupon an encryption code being passed by a MID 110 to a mobile device 114for any given session. A MID 110 may be configured to accumulate,monitor, and provide various metrics regarding MID 110 usage including,for example, usage data, device health, status, and other parametersthat may be desired by a casino operator, regulators, players, or anycombination of the preceding.

Peripheral controller 104 may be communicatively coupled to a firstnetwork 116. In accordance with at least one embodiment, the firstnetwork 116 may be utilized exclusively by the casino such that it isphysically and/or logically closed to outside systems and intruders. Oneor more firewalls and closed/restricted data ports, or other approachesmay be used to restrict access to such casino system 130 components. Thefirst network 116 may utilize any known or later arising networkingtechnology. The first network 116 may include and utilize local areanetworks, wide area networks, the Internet, or any other communicationsconfiguration, topologies, mediums, protocols, and technologies.

The first network 116 communicatively interconnects one or more servers,databases, devices, and/or systems utilized by a casino for itsoperations, accounting, reporting, marketing, management, sales, andother purposes. Examples of such servers include casino managementsystem server 118, slot management system 120, TITO system 122, propertymanagement system 124, point of sale system 126, and Fuzion system 128.Such systems are described in greater detail in the '615 application.

It is to be appreciated that the storage and/or communication of data byand between any of the components of system 100 may be encrypted. Anydesired single or combination of encryption technologies may be utilizedby system 100 components, including but not limited to the use of securesocket layers, virtual private networking, public/private keys, 128-bit,256-bit and other encryption algorithms, or other known or later arisingencryption algorithms, techniques and technologies. For at least oneembodiment, upon authentication of a player's mobile device by thecasino, communications between the MID 110 and a player's mobile device114 are encrypted. Such communications may be further communicated, inclear or encrypted form, between a MID 110 and, via a peripheralcontroller 104, one or more casino system 130 servers.

It is also to be appreciated that in accordance with at least oneembodiment any two or more of the networked system components, such ascasino management system server 118 and Fuzion server 128, may belogically, physically, virtually, directly, or indirectlycommunicatively coupled to a MID 110. Such communications couplings mayinclude the use of one or more application program interfaces (APIs),such that API calls between any two system 100 components may beutilized to authorize, access, control or otherwise manage one or morefeatures or functions provided by the system 100 and components thereof.

As further shown in FIG. 1, for at least one embodiment, the system 100may include the use of one or more second networks 131. Such secondnetworks 131 may utilize any desired data communication technologies,protocols, mediums, and topologies. In accordance with at least oneembodiment, the second network 131 is the Internet. The second network131 may be configured to communicatively connect the casino system 130with one or more third party systems, as represented by one or morethird party servers, for example, lottery server 134, pari-mutuel server136, marketing server 138, and fantasy sports server 140. It is to beappreciated that the services provided by one or more of suchthird-party systems 132 and servers may be provided as a premium featureto a player. For at least one embodiment, such third-party systems 132and servers may be accessible to a player using a mobile device 114communicatively coupled to a MID 110.

As shown in FIG. 2 with respect to at least one embodiment of thepresent disclosure, a system 200 configured for use with a MID 110 mayinclude a peripheral controller 104, an EGM 102, a casino system 130, aplayer's mobile device 114 and a MID 110 configured to facilitate theidentification and communication of information signals by and betweenthe player's mobile device 114 and one or more components of the casinosystem 130. As depicted in FIG. 2, the MID 110 components are depictedin accordance with the functions provided by the MID 110. It is to beappreciated that such functionalities may be provided by suitablyconfigured digital signal processors and like components as a system ona chip, by separate physical components, or combinations thereof. Morespecifically, for at least one embodiment, a MID 110 may be configuredto include a digital signal processor 206. The digital signal processor206 may be any form of microcontroller configurable for use in digitalsignal processing, MAC address processing, device control, and relatedfunctions. In accordance with at least one embodiment, the processor 206may be an ARM Cortex-M4 type or comparable processor.

The MID 110 may also be configured to include one or more intra-casinocommunications components 208. As discussed above with respect to atleast one embodiment of the present disclosure, the MID 110 may becommunicatively coupled to the peripheral controller 104 using one ormore known wired and/or wireless communications technologies, such asUSB, LAN, WIFI, Ethernet, and otherwise. For at least one embodiment,the intra-casino communications components 208 include a USB interfaceboard having at least one USB port configured for connecting to a MID110 via a USB cable. Other types of communications interfaces, board,ports, connectors, and the like may be utilized for a given embodimentto communicatively couple the MID 110, directly or indirectly, to aperipheral controller 104 and/or to one or more other system 200components. When provided as a separate device, the intra-casinocommunications components 208 may be communicatively coupled to theprocessor 206 by a suitably sized MID bus 218.

The MID 110 may be configured to include one or more memory components210. Such memory components 210 may be any form of memory, sizedappropriately for any given implementation of any embodiment of thepresent disclosure. The memory 210 may be configured with any desiredlevel of (non)volatility, including for example, random access memory(RAM), read only memory (ROM), erasable read only memory (EPROM), flashmemory, or otherwise. The memory 210 may be partitioned or otherwiseseparated or provided as desired. For example, MID 110 device firmwaremay be stored in ROM, while transient instructions are stored in a flashor other form of cache memory. Memory 210 may be communicatively coupledto the MID bus 218.

The MID 110 may also be configured to include one or more securitycomponents 212. The security components 212 may be configured tofacilitate any desired level of data protection during storage,transmission, usage, or otherwise. For at least one embodiment, datatransmissions between a MID 110, a player's mobile device 114, aperipheral controller 104, and/or a casino system management server 118,is encrypted using 128 bit AES encryption. Other and/or additional datasecurity technologies may be used. For example, 256 bit AES levelencryption may be utilized for storage or transmission of data by andbetween any system 200 components.

The MID 110 may be configured to include one or more mobile devicecommunications components 214. In one embodiment, such mobile devicecommunications components 214 may be configured to facilitateconnectivity between a MID 110 and a mobile device 114 using both NFCand Bluetooth technologies. In accordance with at least one embodiment,the mobile device communications components 214 may be configured totransmit Bluetooth signals to a mobile device 114 using any desiredBluetooth class power levels. For one embodiment, the Bluetooth powerlevels utilized provide an operating range of up to 10 meters over whicha reliable connection between a MID 110 and a mobile device 114 may bemaintained. In other embodiments, higher or lower power Bluetooth powerclasses including classes 1 to 4 may be utilized to provide a desiredoperating range. In other embodiments, the operating range provided byand between a MID 110 and a mobile device 114 may vary withenvironmental and other conditions, such as, the presence of noise,signal interference, security concerns, and otherwise.

It is commonly appreciated that establishing Bluetooth connectionsbetween a first and a second device commonly requires invocation of aninquiry or a discovery process in each of the devices seeking toconnect. The inquiry or discovery process provides a mechanism by whicheach device may authenticate itself to the other device. Often,Bluetooth inquiry and discovery processes inhibit the seamless and fastconnecting of one device with another, such as a player's mobile device114 with a MID 110, while often requiring operator input. For at leastthese reasons, Bluetooth only approaches are labor intensive andundesirable to many casino operators.

In the past few years, the NFC Forum and the Bluetooth SIG havedeveloped protocols for using NFC to automatically authenticate andsecurely connect a first Bluetooth configured device with a secondBluetooth configured device. Accordingly, for at least one embodiment,the mobile device communications components 214 of the MID 110 may beconfigured to include NFC capabilities. Such NFC capabilities commonlyinclude an NFC compatible antenna, transceiver, data cache and otherwell-known components. These and other NFC communications components arewell known in the art and are not further described herein. The mobiledevice communications components 214 may be further configured toutilize any known or later developed NFC to Bluetooth hand-overprotocols. Per such protocols and for at least one embodiment, themobile device communications components 214 may be configured toautomatically, for example, upon a “touching” of a mobile device to adesignated area on a gaming cabinet 112 bearing an NFC logo or similardesignator, identify the MID 110 to the player's mobile device 114,launch an application program on the player's mobile device 114, andauthenticate the player's mobile device 114 to the MID 110, and handover the communications to a Bluetooth component provided by each of theMID 110 and the mobile device 114. Such procedures may also includeexchanging one or more encryption keys, MAC addresses and otherinformation utilized to facilitate secure Bluetooth communicationsbetween the MID 110 and the player's mobile device 114. For at least oneembodiment, Bluetooth communications then proceed between the MID 110and the player's mobile device 114 until the Bluetooth connection isterminated. It is to be appreciated that a Bluetooth connection mayterminate based upon the moving of a mobile device 114 beyond theBluetooth range of either the MID 110 or the mobile device 114 or upon atermination of the link by either component. The system 200 may beconfigured to periodically re-authenticate the mobile device 114 to theMID 110, exchange new encryption keys or proceed as otherwise desired bya casino operator to maintain secure communications between a MID 110and a player's mobile device 114.

Notably, a player's mobile device 114 may not be configured with NFCcapabilities, while having Bluetooth capabilities. Accordingly, for atleast one embodiment, a player may be provided with a “tag” that can beused to authenticate the player to a MID 110 using NFC. For example, atag may be attached to or provided in a hotel room key provided by thecasino to the player. Such tag may be programmed to include informationneeded to authenticate the player's mobile device 114 to a MID 110 overNFC and for use in establishing connections between the MID 110 and themobile device 114 using Bluetooth components provided respectively byeach of the MID 110 and the player's mobile device 114.

Alternatively, for at least one embodiment, authentication of a player'smobile device 114 may be accomplished by using optical characterrecognition capabilities provided by camera equipped smart-phones andlike devices. Such so equipped mobile devices may be configured to readand interpret QR codes and similar encoded optical images. Such QR andlike codes provide the information needed to identify a given MID 110and instruct a mobile device 114 reading the same to automaticallydiscover and connect, over Bluetooth, with the given MID 110. For atleast one embodiment, the MID 110 may be optionally configured toinclude a display 216 configured to optically present such a QR or likecode. The QR code presented by a MID 110 may be configured to bereadable by a mobile device satisfying certain optical characterrecognition capabilities. The displayed QR code need not necessarily behumanly readable or recognizable. The QR code presented on the display216 provides the information necessary for the mobile device 114 todiscover the MID 110 and establish a secure Bluetooth connectiontherebetween. In one embodiment, a generic QR code reading softwareapplication may be utilized on the player's mobile device 114. Inanother embodiment, the QR code reading functionality may be integratedinto a software application associated with the casino or otherwise andlaunched on the player's mobile device 114. In at least one embodiment,the software application may be launched automatically upon detection ofthe QR code, upon entrance of the mobile device into the casino, forexample, based on location information, or otherwise. The QR codegenerated may be a static code, providing connection information only,or a dynamic code, providing both connection and encryption information.Static QR codes may be utilized for more than one Bluetooth connection(each a “BT session”) between a MID 110 and a mobile device 114. DynamicQR codes are unique to each BT session. In at least one embodiment, QRcodes may be generated by any device and in any desired format, such asa ticket, on a display device, or otherwise.

As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, for at least one embodiment, the MID 110may be configured to provide the before mentioned optical imagegeneration capabilities as well as the NFC capabilities by including adisplay 300/304 and a NFC antenna 302/306. As shown in FIG. 3A for atleast one embodiment, the arms of the NFC antenna 302 array may have asquare helix form that is positioned around a perimeter of the display300. As shown in FIG. 3B, the arms of the NFC antenna 306 array may bepositioned in a square helix form proximate to the perimeter of thedisplay 300/304. For at least one embodiment, displays 300 and 304 areconfigured to be 1″×1″ or less in size to present a QR or like imagereadable by a camera of a mobile device 114 positioned less than 4inches from the display's 300/304 surfaces. The displays 300/304 mayalso be configured to inhibit and/or prevent the reading of thepresented QR codes by a mobile device not positioned substantially abovethe display 300/304 surface, where “substantially above” means theoptical character reading device on a mobile device is positioned within45 degrees of an axis extending perpendicularly from the axial plane onwhich the display surface of the display 300/304 resides.

As discussed above, one or more embodiments of the present disclosuremay not include or use NFC communications capabilities to pair a MID 110with a player's mobile device 114. For such non-NFC embodiments, it isto be appreciated that one or more of the operations set forth per FIGS.4A to 4F are unnecessary as the establishment of a Bluetooth connectionbetween a MID 110 and a player's mobile device 114 may occur once theinformation needed to automatically pair the MID 110 with the player'smobile device 114 is communicated to the player's mobile device 114. Asdiscussed above, such pairing information may be communicated in anyform, by any compatible device.

Referring now to FIGS. 4A-4F, for at least one embodiment a method isshown for utilizing Bluetooth and NFC connections to verify andauthenticate a player's mobile device to a casino system and communicateinformation and data therebetween. In FIGS. 4A-4F, a communications andoperations diagram is also provided which depicts at least oneembodiment of the communications and operations that may arise between ahost 103, such as a peripheral controller 104 or one or more servers incasino system 130 communicatively coupled to a peripheral controller104, a MID 110, and a player's mobile device 114. It is to beappreciated that additional, less, alternative, and/or other stepsand/or communications may arise between the devices of system 100. It isalso to be appreciated, that various communications between devices arenot shown for purposes of simplicity. Examples of communications notshown include the sending of status requests, such as those that may besent between communicatively coupled devices on random, periodic, oranother basis, acknowledgement messages, replies, and otherwise.

As shown in FIG. 4A, one embodiment of a method per the presentdisclosure may begin when an EGM 102 is first configured, or“powered-up” for use with a mobile device 114 (Operation 400). It is tobe appreciated that any given EGM 102 may in a “powered” or unpoweredstate, with regards to the ability to interact with a player's mobiledevice 114, at any given time and for any given reason or lack thereof.As shown, when an EGM 102 is powered-up, a host 103 may be configured tocommunicate one or more status request messages (Operation 400 a) to aMID 110. The format of such messages may be any desired but, for atleast one embodiment, may include elements suitable for synchronizingmessages, sending commands, specifying a length of a given message,which may be expressed in bytes or otherwise, providing for errorcorrection, encryption, data, and other message components. The sendingof status request messages may occur with or without polling. Likewise,any device connected to the system may send status request messagesincluding, but not limited to, the host 103, MID 110, and mobile device114. Status request messages may also be sent upon the occurrence, orlack thereof, of any given event. For example, the activation of a MID110, such as by the placement of a NCF equipped mobile device 114 withinrange of a MID's 110 NFC antenna may trigger the sending of a statusrequest message from the MID 110 to the host 103. In accordance with atleast one embodiment, a device receiving a status request message shouldrespond within 50 milliseconds with an acknowledgement message or othersuitable reply. The system may also be configured to resend a messagewhen a response to a previously sent message is not timely received. Amessage may be sent one or more successive times, as desired for anygiven embodiment. Per at least one embodiment, such resending of amessage may occur 100 milliseconds after a previously sent message towhich a suitable reply is not received. The system may be configured toconsider status request messages not receiving a timely response to beindicative of system malfunction, a player moving away from the EGM, andotherwise.

As further shown in FIG. 4A, a MID 110 may be configured to inhibit itsNFC capabilities. When such a state exists, the MID 110 may reply to astatus request message with an “inhibited” signal (Operation 400 b). Asdiscussed above, a peripheral controller 104 may control the operatingstate of the MID 110 directly or indirectly, such as when inpass-through mode and a server in the casino system 130 operates as the“host” 103. Accordingly, FIG. 4A depicts that a host 103 may command aMID 110 to be enabled, such as by sending an Enable message (Operation400 c). A MID 110 may be enabled for any given time, such as until adisable command is sent, for a period, or otherwise. When in an“enabled” state, a MID 110 listens for an NFC message from a mobiledevice 114 or a tag. When in an “idle” state, a MID 110 may communicatean Idle message (Operation 400 d), indicating that the MID 110 is readyto pair with a mobile device but no such pairing is presently occurring.

When a mobile device 114 moves within range of a MID 110 and the playerusing such mobile device desires to utilize Bluetooth connectionsbetween the mobile device 114 and the MID 110 (Operation 402), theplayer “touches” the mobile device 114 or a tag to the MID 110. As usedherein, a “touch” of a mobile device 114 and/or tag to a MID 110 mayoccur physically, such as by the physical pushing of a button or otheruser interface provided by a MID 110, an EGM 102, a bill validator 108,or other component of a gaming cabinet 112, or electromagnetically, suchas by the passing of the mobile device 114 or tag within anelectromagnetic field emitting from a MID 110. The emitting ofelectromagnetic fields in NFC and other frequencies is well-known in theart and is not described herein. When the “touch occurs” (Operation404), the MID 110 may be configured to communicate an “NFC Present”message or a similar message to the host 103 (Operation 404 a). Suchmessage may convey any desired quantity or type of information, and forat least one embodiment communicates that an NFC compatible device iswithin range.

As further shown in FIG. 4A, upon receiving an NFC Present message, ahost 103 may be configured to respond with an NFC Type Request message(Operation 404 b). As discussed above, a system may be configured topair with mobile devices that do not have NFC capabilities. Accordingly,an NFC Type Request message may be utilized to inquire as to whether themobile device 114 within range of the MID 110 is NFC capable. In oneembodiment, information needed to automatically pair, over Bluetooth, amobile device not NFC capable with a MID 110 may include the use of anNFC tag. Such NFC tag may be provided, for example, on a room key, aTITO ticket or otherwise. For at least one embodiment, informationprovided by an NFC tag may be accessed by the MID 110, a bill validator108, or otherwise. An NFC tag may be an active or passive NFC device, orany other device which conveys information needed to automaticallyestablish a Bluetooth connection by and between the MID 110 and theplayer's mobile device 114. For at least one embodiment, an NFC TypeRequest message (Operation 404 b) may instruct a MID 110 to read the NFCinformation being presented by the use of a NFC capable mobile device ora tag. The information presented may be read and determined by the MID110, the host 103, another gaming cabinet 112, or any combinationthereof using any known or later arising technology (Operations 404c-404 d-404 e). As shown for the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 4A-4F, twopossible sources of NFC information are available, the Phone/Mobiledevice itself or an NFC tag. The method continues with FIG. 4B or 4Cdepending on the NFC type of device detected.

When the mobile device is NFC compatible, the method continues in FIG.4B with automatically establishing Bluetooth communications between theMID 110 and the mobile device 114 (Operation 406). For one embodiment,the establishing of Bluetooth communications may include the operationsof Opening the Bluetooth (“BT”) Channel (Operations 406 a-406 j) on theMID 110. Per one embodiment, the MID 110 may be configured to open aBluetooth channel only upon instruction from a host (Operation 406 a-406b). In other embodiments, the MID 110 may be configured to open aBluetooth channel whenever a “touch” occurs. The host 103 may beconfigured to wait and/or “listen” until an acknowledgement is receivedfrom a MID 110 that a Bluetooth channel has been opened. (Operation 406c).

The opening of the Bluetooth channel may include the generation ofsession unique, common, or other information (Operation 406 d). Forexample, a random number might be assigned to the Bluetooth connection.Such random number may be used to determine an encryption key to utilizeto secure communications between the MID 110 and the mobile device 114over Bluetooth. Likewise, the opening of a Bluetooth channel may occurin the “clear,” where only those security protections provided byBluetooth protocols are utilized, or “securely,” where one or moreadditional, casino system operator, security measures may be utilized,such as encryption. Per at least one embodiment, each establishment of asession between a MID 110 and a mobile device 114 occurs uniquely, suchthat a new encryption key may be utilized to secure communications.Alternatively, the same encryption key may be utilized to securecommunications between a MID 110 and a mobile device 114 for two or moresessions. Such configuration information is communicated to the mobiledevice (Operation 406 e) and the mobile device 114 may be configured touse the information provided by the MID 110 to establish the Bluetoothconnection (Operation 406 h). It is to be appreciated, however, that perat least one other embodiment, the communication flow may be theopposite and the mobile device 114 may be the source of the informationused to establish the Bluetooth connection with the MID 110.

Upon processing the information needed to establish the Bluetoothconnection, the mobile device 114 may send a BT Connect or similarmessage to the MID 110 (Operation 406 i). The MID 110 may alsocommunicate a BT Paired or similar message to the host 103 (Operation406 j).

In FIG. 4C, the method of establishing a Bluetooth connection using atag or other non-NFC compatible mobile device is shown. Per the methodshown in FIG. 4C, the method may include the operation of the hostinstructing the MID 110 to open its Bluetooth channel (Operation 408 a).Such instruction may be needed, for example, when the tag's informationis obtained from the player using a validator or other device. PerOperation 408 b-408 c, the MID 110 opens its Bluetooth channel andcommunicates such status back to the host 103. When the MID 110 or othercomponent of the gaming cabinet 112 contains a display, printer 106 orother compatible device, the host 103 may be configured to then generateand communicate a QR code (Operation 408 d) for display by the MID 110(Operation 408 e), EGM 102, printer 106, or other device. When such QRcode is present, the mobile device 114 reads the code and takesappropriate actions (Operation 408 f). Per one embodiment, suchappropriate actions may include launching a mobile application on themobile device 114 (Operation 408 g) or taking other actions needed toconnect the mobile device 114 to the MID 110 via Bluetooth (Operation408 h). It is to be appreciated that the information communicated viathe QR code to the mobile device 114 may include the same informationcommunicated per Operations 406 d-406 e. Additional information may becommunicated in either approach, as desired for a given embodiment. PerOperations 408 i-408 j, BT Connect and BT Paired messages may then becommunicated to the MID 110 and host 103, respectively.

Referring again to FIG. 4B, once a mobile device is connected to the MIDover Bluetooth, the method may continue for at least one embodiment withplayer identification (Operation 410). Player identification mayinitiate upon request by a host 103, such as a casino system's 130player management system seeking the same. A player ID request messagemay be suitably communicated from any server in casino system 130, theEGM 102, the peripheral controller 104, or otherwise to the mobiledevice 114 (Operations 410 a-410 b). The mobile device 114 suitablyresponds with the requested information, with such information beingprovided to the requesting host 103 (Operations 412 a-412 b). It is tobe appreciated that the requested player identification information mayinclude any information desired by a casino system or device to verify,authenticate, or otherwise identify a player. It is to be appreciatedthat an embodiment may arise where a player's identification is notavailable upon request (Operations 414 a-414 b). For example, a playermay be new to or not registered with the casino. The method may beconfigured to permit establishing a Bluetooth connection before a player“logs-in” or otherwise identifies themselves. (Operations 412-414).Accordingly, the method may be configured to await, when necessary, aplayer logging into a mobile application, into the EGM 102 or otherwiseidentifying themselves to the casino system 130 (Operations 414 c-414f). Per at least one embodiment, the method then continues with one ormore of the operations shown in FIGS. 4D-4F. It is to be appreciated,however, that player identification may occur at any time during themethod shown in FIGS. 4A-4F and/or any other processes used per one ormore embodiments of the present disclosure.

As shown in FIG. 4D, the method may include operations for determiningwhether data is to be communicated to or from a mobile device(Operations 416 and 418). For at least one embodiment, the processing ofsuch data (Operations 420 and 420 a-e) may proceed with data being sentby a host to a mobile device, with acknowledgement messages beingreturned. For at least one embodiment, such processes may proceed as perFIG. 4E. It is to be appreciated that one method for determining whethera mobile device 114 has data to provide to the host is to periodicallysend a status request message from the host to the mobile device via theMID (Operations 416 a). As shown, a response by the MID 110 to such astatus request may include confirming that the Bluetooth session isactive (Operation 416 b). Similarly, the MID 110 may periodicallyconfirm the Bluetooth connection is still active by sending a StatusRequest or similar message to the mobile device (Operation 416 c). Themobile device may be configured to respond with an Idle message(Operation 416 d) when it does not have other data to provide. When themobile device has data to provide, the method may proceed as per FIG.4E.

As shown in FIG. 4E, a mobile device may provide various types of data114 to the host and vice versa. For example, a mobile device may providedata seeking to redeem an award (Operations 424-426). Per oneembodiment, a mobile device may initiate a redeem award method bycommunicating a Redeem Award message to the host via the MID 110(Operations 424 a-b). Upon receiving such request, the host may beconfigured to validate the award and, when valid, update the player'saccount (which may be an E-wallet or other account) (Operations 426a-b). The host may be configured to communicate a Reward Redeemedmessage to the mobile device, via the MID 110 (Operations 426 c-426 d).

Similarly, a host 103 may desire to notify a mobile device when an awardhas been earned (Operation 428) and accrue such award to an accountassociated with the player (Operation 430). More specifically, for atleast one embodiment, a host may be configured to recognize when anaward is earned (Operation 428 a). Such earning event may arise, forexample, from favorable game-play such as a successful wager, fromrandom awards, or otherwise. When an award is earned, a host may beconfigured to automatically update a player's account, E-wallet, orother account (Operation 428 b). While not shown in FIG. 4E, anembodiment may be configured to verify a player desires to receive theaward before any account is updated. Further, when an award is earnedand accounts are updated, the host may be configured to communicateinformation, Reward Accrued messages, to the mobile device which enablesthe mobile device to update an application executing thereon.(Operations 430 a-c).

As further shown in FIG. 4E, another type of event a mobile device mayoriginate may include a “Cash-in” event (Operation 432). As inferred, aCash-in event may arise when a player desires to provide additional“cash” into his/her account to enable additional game-play. Withoutregard to the form of cash provided, such as bank-notes, credit or debitcard charges, or otherwise, the mobile device 114 may be configured tocommunicate the cash-in event to the host 103 by one or more Cash-Inmessages (Operations 432 a-b). Per at least one embodiment, thesemessages may occur in conjunction with a player's use of a billvalidator 108. Upon receiving the messages and the “cash” (howeverdenominated) the host 103 may be configured to verify the request,update the appropriate account(s) and communicate a success message tothe mobile device 114 (Operations 434 a-d). The mobile device 114 may beconfigured to update its applications upon receipt of a success message(Operation 434 e).

A cash-out method may also be supported (Operations 436-438). Per acash-out method, a player desiring to convert points into cash mayinitiate such method using their mobile device 114 by sending one ormore Cash-out messages to a host 103 (Operations 436 a-b). The host 103may be configured to verify the request and update accounts accordingly(Operations 438 a-b). It is to be appreciated that the accounts may beupdated directly, such as by electronic funds transfers or otherwise,indirectly, such as by updating a TITO ticket, or otherwise. Cash-outsuccess messages may be communicated from a host 103 to the mobiledevice 114 (Operations 438 c-d), with the mobile device 114 accordinglyupdating one or more application programs and/or accounts (Operation 438e). These and other processes may continue until the session ends.

As shown in FIG. 4F, the Bluetooth connection (the session) mayterminate when a player logs-out (Operation 440). For example, a playermay terminate the session by logging out of the application programexecuting on their mobile device 114 (Operation 440 a). The system maybe configured for at least one embodiment to determine that the user haslogged out based upon a corresponding message sent by the mobile device114 in response to a periodic Status Request message (Operations 440b-e). Similarly, a Bluetooth connection may be terminated when the host103 desires to end the session (Operation 442). For example, if a playeris not actively using an EGM for some period, the host 103 may beconfigured to send an Unpair Request message to the mobile device 114(Operation 442 a-c). An acknowledgement or a lapsing of time may resultin the session being designated for termination (Operations 442 c-d).Likewise, the connection may be lost for other reasons, such asinterference, a player's mobile device 114 moving away from the gamingcabinet 112 or otherwise. The MID 110 may detect these types of eventswithout the involvement of the host 103 and may be configured to sendone or more unanswered Status Request messages to the mobile device 114(Operation 444 a). For at least one embodiment, after three StatusRequest messages are not answered by a mobile device 114, the connectionmay be deemed lost and designated for closure by the MID 110 and/or thehost 103 (Operation 444 b).

As shown in FIG. 4F, for at least one embodiment, once a session hasbeen designated for closure, the closing method originates with the host103 instructing the MID 110 to close the channel (Operations 446 a-c).For other embodiments, the closing may be initiated by the MID 110directly or by the mobile device 114. As further shown in FIG. 4F, forat least one embodiment, the closing method proceeds with the mobiledevice 114 closing its Bluetooth channel first (Operation 446 c) andthen the MID 110 closing the Bluetooth channel (Operation 446 d) andinforming the host 103 that the Bluetooth channel is closed and themobile device 114 is unpaired (Operation 446 e) from the MID 110. Inother embodiments, the closing of the channel by the mobile device 114or the MID 110 may occur simultaneously, or in any desired order. Uponthe closing of the Bluetooth channel and the unpairing of the mobiledevice 114 with the MID 110, the operations of FIG. 4A may continue.

Further and in accordance with at least one embodiment, it is to beappreciated that the application program executing on a mobile device114 that has been communicatively coupled to an EGM 102 via, at least inpart, a MIB 110 may be configured to present to a player any desireduser interface(s) and support any desired form or function of playerinteractions. More specifically, the various embodiments describedherein may be configured such that a mobile device 114 may be configuredto support, directly or indirectly, one or more premium features.Examples of such premium features are described in the '615 application.In accordance with at least one embodiment, premium features may beprovided as one or more overlay(s), pictures, windows, panels, panes orotherwise presented on a display (collectively and individually, an“overlay”) associated with an EGM 102. Such overlay(s) may be providedby an EGM's 102 display, a display on the mobile device 114communicatively thereto coupled in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent disclosure or otherwise.

Likewise, user input and output functionalities associated with suchpremium features may be supported and/or provided by use of a mobiledevice 114 communicatively coupled to an EGM 102 per at least oneembodiment of the present disclosure. For example, a so connected mobiledevice 114 may provide user character or other input capabilities thatmight not otherwise be supported by an EGM 102. Data output capabilitiesmight also be supported, such as the providing of tax forms (e.g., W-2Gforms) in electronic format to the player's mobile device versusprinting such forms on a printer 106. The providing of such sensitiveinformation to a player must accordingly occur over a secure connectionestablished per at least one embodiment of the present disclosure.Accordingly, it is to be appreciated that at least one embodiment of thepresent disclosure may be configured to support the providing of premiumfeatures to players using mobile devices 114 communicatively coupled toan EGM 102.

In some implementations, articles of manufacture are provided ascomputer program products that cause the instantiation of operations ona computer system to implement the invention. One implementation of acomputer program product provides a non-transitory computer programstorage medium readable by a computer system and encoding a computerprogram. It should further be understood that the described technologymay be employed in special purpose devices independent of a computer.The above specification, examples and data provide a completedescription of the structure and use of the various embodiments of theinvention as defined in the claims.

Although various embodiments of the claimed invention have beendescribed above with a certain degree of particularity, or regarding oneor more individual embodiments, those skilled in the art could makenumerous alterations to the disclosed embodiments without departing fromthe spirit or scope of the claimed invention. Other embodiments aretherefore contemplated. It is intended that all matter contained in theabove description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall beinterpreted as illustrative only of certain embodiments and notlimiting. Changes in detail or structure may be made without departingfrom the basic elements of the invention as defined in the followingclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for facilitating communications betweenan electronic gaming machine and a mobile device, comprising: a firstserver; a second server maintaining premium casino services; and amobile interface device, comprising: a housing configured to couple to agaming cabinet that includes the electronic gaming machine, the housingincluding a protrusion configured to project from an external surface ofthe gaming cabinet; at least one illumination element configured toilluminate the protrusion; and a near-field communications componentincluding an antenna positioned within the protrusion; wherein: (i)based on data exchanged between the near-field communications componentand the mobile device, the mobile interface device initiatescommunication for an interaction between a ticket account maintained bythe first server and a peripheral controller communicably coupled to theelectronic gaming machine and the mobile interface device; and (ii)wherein the peripheral controller, via the second server, is configuredto control operations, including one or more of information, featuresand functions of any gaming application program executing on the mobiledevice when the mobile device is communicatively coupled to the mobileinterface device.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the communicationfor the interaction is performed via a WiFi communication connection oran Ethernet communication connection.
 3. The system of claim 1, whereinthe at least one server uses the data to associate the ticket accountwith the electronic gaming machine, the peripheral controller, or aperipheral device communicably coupled to the peripheral controller. 4.The system of claim 1, wherein the interaction redeems a ticket from theticket account to apply a credit to the electronic gaming machine. 5.The system of claim 1, wherein the interaction prints a ticket from theticket account via a ticket printer that is communicably coupled to theperipheral controller.
 6. The system of claim 1, wherein the interactionadds a ticket to the ticket account in response to a cash-out eventassociated with the electronic gaming machine.
 7. The system of claim 1,wherein the interaction adds a ticket to the ticket account in responseto a cash-in event detected by a bill validator that is communicablycoupled to the peripheral controller.
 8. A system for facilitatingcommunications between an electronic gaming machine and a mobile device,comprising: a first server; a second server maintaining premium casinoservices; and a mobile interface device, comprising: a housingconfigured to couple to a gaming cabinet that includes the electronicgaming machine, the housing including a protrusion configured to projectfrom an external surface of the gaming cabinet; at least oneillumination element configured to illuminate the protrusion; and anear-field communications component including an antenna positionedwithin the protrusion; wherein: the mobile interface device isconfigured to use the near-field communications component to obtain datafrom the mobile device wherein the mobile interface device is configuredto provide the data to the at least one server; the first server isconfigured to use the data to process a transaction between a ticketaccount maintained by the first server and a peripheral controllercommunicably coupled to the electronic gaming machine and the mobileinterface device; and wherein the peripheral controller, via the secondserver, is configured to control operations, including one or more ofinformation, features and functions of any gaming application programexecuting on the mobile device when the mobile device is communicativelycoupled to the mobile interface device.
 9. The system of claim 8,wherein the at least one server adds a ticket to the ticket account inresponse to notice of a cash-in event received from the peripheralcontroller.
 10. The system of claim 8, wherein the at least one serveradds a ticket to the ticket account in response to notice of a cash-outevent associated with the electronic gaming machine received from theperipheral controller.
 11. The system of claim 8, wherein the at leastone server instructs a ticket printer that is communicably coupled tothe electronic gaming machine to print a ticket from the ticket accountin response to a request from the peripheral controller.
 12. The systemof claim 8, wherein the at least one server redeems a ticket from theticket account to apply a credit to the electronic gaming machine inresponse to a request from the peripheral controller.
 13. The system ofclaim 8, wherein the at least one server receives a request for thetransaction from the peripheral controller.
 14. The system of claim 8,wherein the at least one server receives a request for the transactionfrom the mobile device.
 15. A system for facilitating communicationsbetween an electronic gaming machine and a mobile device, comprising: afirst server; a second server maintaining premium casino services; and amobile interface device, comprising: a housing configured to couple to agaming cabinet that includes the electronic gaming machine, the housingincluding a protrusion configured to project from an external surface ofthe gaming cabinet; at least one illumination element configured toilluminate the protrusion; and a near-field communications componentincluding an antenna positioned within the protrusion; wherein: themobile interface device is configured to use the near-fieldcommunications component to provide data to the mobile device; whereinthe first server is configured to receive the data from the mobiledevice and use the data to process a transaction between a ticketaccount maintained by the first server and a peripheral controllercommunicably coupled to the electronic gaming machine and the mobileinterface device; and (ii) the peripheral controller, via the secondserver, is configured to control operations, including one or more ofinformation, features and functions of any gaming application programexecuting on the mobile device when the mobile device is communicativelycoupled to the mobile interface device.
 16. The system of claim 15,wherein the at least one server adds a ticket to the ticket account inresponse to notice of a cash-in event received from the peripheralcontroller.
 17. The system of claim 15, wherein the at least one serveradds a ticket to the ticket account in response to notice of a cash-outevent associated with the electronic gaming machine received from theperipheral controller.
 18. The system of claim 15, wherein the at leastone server instructs the peripheral controller to print a ticket fromthe ticket account via a ticket printer in response to a request fromthe mobile device.
 19. The system of claim 15, wherein the at least oneserver redeems a ticket from the ticket account to apply a credit to theelectronic gaming machine in response to a request from the mobiledevice.
 20. The system of claim 15, wherein the at least one serverreceives a request for the transaction from the mobile device.